Extensible car-step.



W. J. GARRIGAN & H. C. WARNER.

EXTENSIBLE CAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20. HHS.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A VIIIIII'IIII J ammwtow THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co. WASHINGTON. 1 :4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER J. GARRIGAN AND HUGH C. WARNER, 0F SALAMANCA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS 0F ONE-THIRD TO HARRY A. CALDWELL, OF SALAMANCA, NEW

YORK.

EXTENSIBLE CAR-STEP.

Application filed February 20, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WALTER J. GARRIGAN and HUGH C. \VARNER, citizens of the United States, residing at Salamanca, in the county of Cattaraugus and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Extensible Car-Steps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an extensible step for attachment to the steps upon rail- Way coaches or similar vehicles adapted for transportation, and has for its primary object to provide a step of the class described, which may be manually extended for use when necessary, and at other times folded beneath the steps proper in a secured position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a step of the character described in which the said step when folded is prevented from rattling.

A further object of the invention is to provide an operating means for said step which may be attached thereto in such a manner as to materially add to the safety of persons upon the platform of the vehicle, and also prevent the descent of the steps before said step is extended to an unfolded position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extensible step of the class described which is simple in construction, durable in use and inexpensive of manufacture.

The invention consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but no restriction is necessarily made to the precise details of construction therein shown, as changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of a flight of steps upon a portion of a railroad coach, parts being broken away to show our invention applied thereto. the extensible step being shown in a folded position. Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig-1 showing the extensible step in an extended position. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

Serial No. 9,654.

4 is a horizontal fragmentary view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The numeral 1 designates a railroad coach of the usual construction having a flight of steps 2 attached thereon, said steps comprising risers 3 and treads 4. Hingedly mounted to the top of the set of steps 2 is a trap door or platform The flight of steps 2 is further provided with side rails 6, and the tread of one of said steps is slotted or recessed as at 7, for a purpose hereinafter described.

Mounted beneath and upon the tread portion 4 of the lowermost step is a rod 8 having a coiled spring 9 mounted thereon. The ends 10 of the rods 8 adjacent their connection with the tread 4 serve as pintles upon which is mounted. as at 11 for swinging movement a supplemental riser 13. to which one end of the spring 9 is attached, as at 14, while the opposite end of said spring is attached, as at 15, to the rod 8. Hingedly connected as at 16 to the riser 13 is a tread 17 provided with a bracket 18, the outer end 19 of which is provided with cars 20.

Secured to the side rails 6 or the steps 2 by means of a sleeve 21 which is swivelly connected as at 21' to one side rail 6 of the flight of steps is an L-shaped rod 22 having its upper end threaded to receive a bolt 23 to which is attached a spring 23 and its lower end connected with the tread 17 as shown at 24, said rod and bolt limiting the downward movement of the supplemental step. Fastened upon one of the treads 4 of the set of steps by means of a bracket 25 is a curved link 26, whose lowermost end is slotted as at 27 to receive a bolt 28 passing through the ears 20 of the arm 19.

Mounted upon the side rails 6 of the steps 2 adiacent the coach bodv is a bracket 2!! to which is pivoted, as at 30, a lever 31. The short arm of the lever 31 is provided with a clevis 32 adapted to form a bearing 34 for a U-shaped link 35, which passes through the slots 7 in the tread 4 in the fiight of steps 2 and has one end loosely mounted in the bearing 34, while the opposite end thereof is secured in a strap eye 36 upon the platform 5. Pivotally connected as at 37 to the longer arm of the lever 31 is a rod 38, said rod being ofi'set as at 39, and having its lower end attached to the bolt 28 passing through the ears 20 upon the arm 19 of the bracket 18.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it is easily seen that when the trap or platform 5 is raised the link draws upwardly upon one end of the lever 31, said motion being communicated through the rod 38 and the bracket 18 to the tread 17 of the extensible step, thereby moving the same against the action of the spring 9 to an extended position. It will also be apparent that an adjustment of the bolt 23 upon the rod 22 will limit the downward movement of the tread 17 of the extensible step While the link 26 serves as a guiding means for the rod 38 while the step is being extended and also cooperates with the rod 22 in supporting the same when extended. Upon the closing of the trap or platform 5 the spring 9 cooperates with the action of the link 35 upon the lever 31 and the rod 38 to restore the riser 13, the tread 17 and the rod 22 to normal or folded position.

Having thus described our invention what is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a flight of steps having a side rail, and a foldable step connected therewith, means for folding and extending said step, a sleeve movably mounted upon the side rail of a flight of steps, a rod loosely mounted in said sleeve and having one end thereof secured to the foldable step, a nut threadably engaged with one end of said rod and a coil spring secured to said nut and encircling said rod, and adapted to contact with said sleeve when the foldable step is in an extended position.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a flight of steps having a side rail, of an extensible step connected with the flight of steps, means for retracting and extending the extensible step, including a bracket secured to the tread of the extensible step and extending beyond and rearwardly of the same, a rod movably connected with the side rail of the flight of steps and having one end secured to the extensible step in advance of said bracket. and a link pivotally connected with the flight of steps and the extending rear end of said bracket, said link and rod being adapted to cooperate in supporting the extensible step when the same is in an extended position.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

WALTER J. GARRIGAN. HUGH C. WARNER.

Witnesses:

JAMES P. QUIGLEY, BERNARDINE KEoUoH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

